TECHNICAL PROJECT: THE INTELLIGENT CAR

OBJECTIVES
Mounting a simple electrical circuit
Connect limit switches
Reuse materials

DEFINITION OF THE PROPOSAL

Design and build, according to the project method, an intelligent car with the following conditions:

It must follow a linear path, forward or backward.

In the face of an obstacle, the engine will stop and the traction wheel will change the direction of the car
automatically or manually.
The battery voltage should not be greater than 4.5 volts (whichever the motor admits).
The dimensions of the car can not exceed the volume of 20 × 20 × 20 cm3.
The use of recycled or waste materials will be valued.

POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS
To respond to the proposed problem there are different solutions. Some of them are:
Use a motor with a gearbox solidary to the traction wheel, two free wheels, two limit switches, a three-
position double switch and a battery.
Use a motor with a gearbox solidary to the traction wheel, two free wheels, a switch, a limit switch, a
mechanical limit switch drive and two batteries.
Use a geared motor that transmits its movement to a drive shaft with two wheels, a crazy wheel, a
switch, two limit switches, a commutator and a battery.
Use a geared motor that transmits its movement to a drive shaft with two drive wheels, a crazy wheel, a
switch, a limit switch, a mechanical limit switch drive and two batteries.
The batteries that could be used are those of 4.5 V belt pack.

PROPOSED SOLUTION
Of the different possible solutions we will delve into the first of the possible solutions: use a motor with
a reducer solidary to the traction wheel, two free wheels, two limit switches, a double switch of three
positions and a battery.
Physical description of the solution
It consists of a thin plywood board, as a chassis, where all the components are mounted. On the lower
front face are mounted the motor with reducer and the wheel solidarity to its axle. On the lower rear
face the axle supports of the free wheels are mounted.
On the upper face are placed the two limit switches (one front and one behind), the switch, the battery
and the double switch. The components are joined with cables. Conventional switches and double
switches can be used, which are purchased in stores specializing in electronic components, or they can
be manufactured with workshop materials. The illustrations in the margin show the general sketch of
the assembly and the electrical circuit.
Description of operation
The three-position switch allows you to activate the car and change the direction of travel. In the central
position, the vehicle is stationary. When you move it to the left, the car starts moving. If you move the
switch to the right, the car reverses direction. The moment the car encounters an obstacle, it stops; In
that case, you can move the switch to change direction. And so on. A switch can also be used to start the
vehicle and a dual two-position switch to control the direction of travel.

PLANNING
Bill of Materials
1 plywood board of 3 mm (1 piece of 15 × 12 cm and 4 pieces of 2 × 2 cm)
3 wooden rods 3 mm or 5 mm diameter (20 cm)
3 wheels 31 mm diameter and 8 mm wide
3 cables of about 15 cm and 4 cables of about 10 cm
1 double three-position switch
1 motor with gearbox between 1.5 V and 6 V
2 Career finals
1 x 4.5V battery
4 M3 flat head screws (16 mm long)

List of tools
Graduated rule
Sergeants or bench screw
Blade
Arc saw
File
Drill (2 mm bit)
Flat screwdriver
Thermoplastic glue gun

Step-by-step construction
Trace the chassis measurements from 15 × 12 cm on the 3 mm plywood and cut them with the strap,
holding the board with the bench screw or with sergeants. File the edges of the board to remove chips.
With the dashboard securely fastened, help yourself with the segueta to make a central incision in the
wider front of the chassis of 5 × 2 cm, to allow the rotation of the traction wheel (without this slit, the
wheel could rub the dashboard).
Trim with the tail the front of the chassis 15 mm from the end in the width of 15 cm and 40 mm from
the same end of the length of 12 cm, as illustrated in the figure. Do not forget to hold the board well
before cutting and filing at the end of the cut to have a finer finish.
Prepare three shafts (wooden rods) of 3 mm or 5 mm in diameter and 20 cm long, holding the rod with
the bench screw and cutting with the bowsaw. Lima at the end of the cut.
Extend the mechanical drive of the two limit switches, fixing with insulating tape two of the axes that
you have already prepared.
It fixes the two limit switches on the chassis of the car with four M3 flathead screws (16 mm long).
It makes, for the axle of the rear wheels, two square supports of 2 × 2 cm of 3 mm plywood.
With a small auger (no larger than the diameter of the shaft), drill the brackets in the center at the
height of the shaft of the motor with reducer. Make sure the axle of the free wheels passes through the
bracket hole with ease.
Glue the supports with white glue at the ends of the back and let it dry until the glue is completely
transparent.
Wheels can be purchased from hard rubber or can be made from wood with a crown on a table drill.
Don't forget to file. Prepare three wheels.
In case you manufacture the wheels yourself, point to the center of the three wheels and make sure
they are not eccentric. Drill the center with a bit slightly smaller than the shaft diameter. Make sure the
wheels fit on their respective axles.
If you use wooden wheels, make two square stops of 2 × 2 cm of 3 mm plywood. Prepare them in the
center with an auger.
It assembles on their respective axles the free wheels and the traction wheel.
Glue the three-position switch. Make connections as indicated by the connection scheme.

FINAL TESTS AND CONCLUSIONS

Place the car on the ground in the direction of the wall and check that, when the limit end is activated,
the car stops.
Operate the dual commutator and check that the motor starts to rotate in the opposite direction to the
one it was previously rotating.
Place an obstacle to the car and verify that, when activating the other end of the race, the car stops
again.
Operate the dual switch again and check that it changes the direction of rotation, heading in the initial
direction.